June 8,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Franklin Lakes NJ, Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced that DANIELLE WEITZ (DOB: 08/23/1952; married; unemployed) of 512 Haddon Place, Franklin Lakes, NJ was charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty. The charges are the result of an investigation by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti and the Franklin Lakes Police Department under the direction of Chief Carmine Pezzuti.
On May 31, 2018, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Animal Cruelty Task Force (“B.C.A.C.T.F.”) received information that a home at 512 Haddon Place in Franklin Lakes was being operated as a dog kennel. On June 5, 2018, as a result of an investigation by the B.C.A.C.T.F. and the Franklin Lakes Police Department, a search warrant was executed at 512 Haddon Place, and 14 dogs, in varying states of health and living in conditions unacceptable for the well-being of the animals, were removed from the home. Members of the borough’s Animal Control Unit and a veterinarian were present to ensure safe handling and medical assessment of the dogs as they were removed.
On June 6, 2018, Danielle WEITZ was served with 14 counts of Failure As The Owner Or As A Person Otherwise Charged With The Care Of A Living Animal Or Creature To Provide The Living Animal Or Creature With Necessary Care, N.J.S.A. 4:22-17A(4), a Disorderly Persons offense. WEITZ is scheduled for a first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack on Thursday, July 12, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.
Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Calo states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and would like to thank the Franklin Lakes Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.
